BEIJING, Sept. 13 -- China welcomes Canada's ratification of an agreement which aims to promote and protect mutual investment between Canada and China, said China's commerce minister Gao Hucheng on Saturday.

China is looking forward to a diplomatic note from Canada so that the agreement can take effect as soon as possible, said Gao in a statement on the ministry's website.

Trade between China and Canada has been improving, said Gao, adding that mutual trade hit 54.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2013 and mutual investment totalled 51 billion U.S. dollars between the two countries by the end of 2013.

The agreement will help boost mutual investment in the two countries and deepen their economic and trade cooperation, Gao said.